This Modern Love Photography shot the most endearing South Asian wedding celebration in Atlanta, Georgia, this spring, and we are so excited to share all the beautiful little details here with you today! First off, let's introduce you to the bride, Maharani Shafina, and her hubby-to-be, Raja Karim. These two adorable lovebirds are getting ready for a fabulously unforgettable first look photo session, and our pretty bride is looking absolutely stunning in her simple and elegant, white wedding sari. She worked with hair and makeup artist Dina Marie Makeup, on a clean and understated look, and Dina Marie gave her just that. She looks flawless in every frame! Her incredibly breathtaking mehndi, created by Beauty You Deserve, will steal your wedding lovin' hearts for sure. In just a a bit, we'll head to enchanting reception, where you'll be treated with the most fabulous floral and decor inspiration, and guests of the newlyweds will dine on a finely catered feast from Cafe Bombay. In the meantime, head into the complete gallery for an exclusive look at some pre-wedding highlights and a closer look at the bride's brilliant mehndi work!

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The bride, on how she met the Raja of her dreams:

"Karim and I were introduced by a mutual friend. When I first talked to him, I was surprised to find out that he used to live in Atlanta, where I live. While we lived in the same city, our paths never crossed, and it took him moving to Florida for us to finally meet. At the beginning we both wanted to take things slow. We talked on the phone for eight months before we decided to meet face to face for the first time. Every time we made plans though, something would come up – a death in the family, getting stuck in an ice storm, receiving a speeding ticket. It was so frustrating that it got to a point where we almost gave up. A weekend in December 2013 was when it finally happened. We met in Savannah, Georgia, and meeting him for the first time confirmed that we hadn’t been trying so hard for nothing. We explored the city, got to know each other, and realized that we enjoyed each other’s company so much that pursuing the relationship was worth it."

On her Rajas romantic proposal:

"I knew Karim was going to propose to me during one of his upcoming trips to Atlanta. I was so excited for it to finally be official and to see my ring for the first time, but he wasn’t going to give it up so easily. We spent two days together, with me anxiously waiting for the moment he would propose. Then early one morning, he snuck in to my room and started tickling my face. Thinking it was my cat, I opened my eyes ready to shoo the cat away. What I saw instead was Karim on his knees with the most beautiful ring I could imagine. I was blown away and so filled with joy that all I could do was say “Oh my god” over and over again. When I finally got myself together and processed what was happening, I was quick to say, “YES!”"

On what she enjoyed most about planning the wedding of her dreams:

"I wasn’t a typical bride when it came to planning the wedding. I didn’t have any idea what I wanted when I started, but I figured it out along the way. Throughout the process, my sisters and I were able to spend so much time together as we met day after day to help me figure out what my dream wedding was going to look like. Being able to go through the process with them is one of my favorite memories of the wedding."

On her most memorable wedding moment:

"Karim and I did a “first look” with our photographer and videographer – the first moment we saw each other on our wedding day after we had both gotten dressed. To this day, I can still remember walking up behind him, my heart beating out of my chest, my legs shaking from the anticipation. I tapped him on the back, and when he turned around and our eyes met, it felt like the world had frozen around us. In just a few hours, we were going to start our lives together, and this was the first moment of forever."

You won't want to miss the amazing reception, coming up next!

STYLE
GUIDE
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Traditional
Romantic
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Spring
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Catering: Cafe Bombay Restaurant and Catering | Venues: Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta | Venue (Sangeet): Crystal Banquet Hall | Venue (Ceremony): Atlanta Headquarter Jamatkhana | Venue (Reception): Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta | Floral & Decor: Events InStyle by Beenish | Cakes & Treats: Cake Hag | DJs & Entertainment/Lighting: XtraHotDjs Entertainment & Event Design | Bridal Fashions: Ladlee | Bridal Fashions: Bombay Bazaar | Bridal Jewelry: Highglow Jewelers | Bridal Jewelry: Kiian Silver | Wedding Stationery: XHD Invites